Giants’ Melancon activated from DL: ‘It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been fun’

Updated 6:45 pm, Saturday, August 12, 2017

WASHINGTON - Mark Melancon’s season has not gone according to plan. To say the least.

“It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been fun,” Melancon said. “It’s been a tough (time) on the DL. So, yeah, I’m excited to get out there and get going.”

The Giants activated the closer from the disabled list before Saturday night’s game, which is the opener of a three-game series because of Friday’s rainout.

Melancon, signed in the offseason for four years and $62 million, hasn’t pitched since June 27, and his pronator strain twice sent him to the DL, a short stint in May followed by a longer one that prompted a more deliberate timetable.

“Get back to what I’ve done the past three years,” he said when asked what he wants to accomplish the final six weeks. “Get back in a routine, get back to what I’m capable of doing. It’ll be nice to get back out there, really.”

Melancon made four rehab starts, his latest a scoreless, two-strikeout inning on Wednesday. To create a roster spot, the Giants placed Miguel Gomez on the disabled list with right knee inflammation.

Photo: Harry How, Getty Images

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 03: Mark Melancon #41 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates the final Los Angeles Dodgers out for a 4-1 win during the 11th inning at Dodger Stadium on May 3, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) less

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 03: Mark Melancon #41 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates the final Los Angeles Dodgers out for a 4-1 win during the 11th inning at Dodger Stadium on May 3, 2017 in Los Angeles, ... more

Photo: Harry How, Getty Images

Giants’ Melancon activated from DL: ‘It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been fun’

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Another player can be added to the roster Sunday night with teams able to use a 26th man for the second game of double-headers.

In Melancon’s absence, Sam Dyson assumed the closer’s role and has eight saves (in nine chances) and a 2.22 ERA in 23 outings. Manager Bruce Bochy said he’ll ease Melancon back into the fold in lower leverage situations.

“He’s been great. He’s done an excellent job. I feel like we’ve got a diamond in the rough,” Melancon said of Dyson, his teammate in the World Baseball Classic.

With Dyson not eligible for free agency until 2021 and Will Smith coming off Tommy John surgery, Melancon said the Giants’ bullpen could be “exciting and promising for years to come.”

Meantime, the name Melancon chose for the Aug. 25-27 Players Weekend — when players will wear nicknames on their jerseys — is clever: “Stretch.” Not to steal from Hall of Famer Willie McCovey but to make light of a Fox Sports report that he “rubbed teammates the wrong way” by altering the time relievers take the field to pregame stretch.